Volume LXII No. 79 January 9, 2019

A Publication of First Christian Church of North HollywoodA Congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Robert M. Bock, Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben, Associate PastorJennifer Le’au, Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett, Director of Youth MinistriesAlfredo Gomez & Loydi Rivas Gomez, Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationYoung Lan Kim & Young Jun Yang, Korean Pastors

– Jeremiah 9:24 –

... love, justice, and righteousness in the earth,in these things i delight, says the Lord.

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The 50th annual “The Strength of a Cable” dedication service will be held on Sunday, January 27, at both the 10:00 AM morning service and the 5:30 PM Spirit Song service of worship. The service is a time for the entire church family to re-dedicate itself to following the teachings of Jesus in the coming year.

This special Sunday will also be the time when church family and friends will have the opportunity to turn in their pledge cards for the 2019 church year. Pledge cards will be mailed to those who pledged as part of their stewardship giving in 2018. If you did not use a pledge card and would like one mailed to you please call Glenda in the church office, 818-763-8218. She will be happy to mail you a card.

I would want to remind you that pledge cards are confidential with only the chair of the Stewardship Council, our CFO and the Senior Pastor knowing what people give. Pledging helps our church leaders form the new annual budget. A pledge is non-binding. It can be raised or lowered at any time during the church year. Quarterly statements are sent. These statements are not “bills’ but a simple reminder of estimated giving.

Financial pledges can be made in a variety of ways. Some people choose to pay weekly, monthly, quarterly. Pledges can be paid by cash, check, credit card or in the gift of stocks or bonds.

We all receive way too many requests for our money. Some are very legitimate, others are scams. One thing giving to your church guarantees you is the

integrity and dedication to Christ’s teaching by those responsible for being stewards of your gift. I believe your gift to your church is the best way to assure “more bang for the buck.”

Please mark on your calendar – Sunday, January 27, 2019 as Strength of a Cable Dedication Sunday. It’s a beautiful service of worship which will be held at both 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM.

In the meantime have a wonderful week. I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we celebrate the second Sunday of the New Year.

Pergé!Pastor Bob

celebrating Pastor Bob’s 50 years at FCCNH

Sunday . March 3, 2019following the 10aM Service

Please join us for lunch, fellowship and activities for the entire family throughout the FCCNH Campus.

More to come… but please note March 3rd on your calendar!

it’s a family fun day

First Christian news January 9, �019 Page �

For those of you who know someone serving in the armed forces, as well as people serving in other capacities, we want to lift them up in prayer... please let us know when they come home!

Joshua BigbeeThomas Matthews

Christopher A. BernsteinChris Diaz

We also want to continue to pray for peace, for wisdom for the world’s leaders, and for the people of all war-torn areas of our world.

Our condolences to the following families who lost loved ones during the first week of the new year.

Tentative date for his celebration of life is February 9. Long time church member, Wendell is survived

by his wife Nelle, a son, four daughters and seven grandchildren.

Jackie is the mother of Ken Walmsley and the mother-in-law to Linda. She lived in Midland, Texas. The plan is to take the ashes of Mr. and Mrs. Walmsley Sr. back to Rhode Island sometime in the spring to be interred

with the rest of the family.

Jack is the step-father of Dixie Friedrich and grandfather of David Friedrich. He lived in the San

Luis Obispo area. No service has yet been announced.

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This morning, I collected the paper doves from the Christmas tree in the sanctuary. There was a whole flock of them! You may recall that for our service of Longest Night, people who attended were invited to decorate these doves. We used stickers, small gem stones, color pens or other tributes, and wrote the names of those they love and miss at this holiday season. The doves were hung on the tree and remained there through the Christmas season. Today I reverently removed them and placed them in a shadow box I keep in my office. In the box are tributes from years past. I save them all. They are sacred, as are our memories of those we love.

The older I get I become more sentimental. I have always liked to peruse the photos of noteworthy peo-ple who have died. In 2018 we honored the lives of people like George and Barbara Bush, John McCain, Billy Graham, Winnie Mandela, Aretha Franklin, Burt Reynolds and Stephen Hawking. These are just a few names out of so many and I know there are others who have influenced you along the way. It is important that we treasure the connections we have with one another. Even if those connections come through the television or popular culture, our hearing of one another’s voices and seeing these images have a great influence on us.

A week ago Galen, Neill and I attended the clos-ing worship service of the Wilshire Christian Church. The congregation originated as a merger of two other churches – First Christian Church of Los Angeles and the Magnolia Ave. Christian Church – with the Wilshire Blvd. Christian Church. My mother and her family were originally members of the “First Church” (as mom

referred it) and my father’s family were members of the Magnolia Ave. church. They were married at the grand cathedral-like building on the corner of Wilshire and Vermont in 1940. My grandfathers were Deacons at the church. My parents sang in the choir and were active in Christian Endeavor. My sister Lynn and brother Fred were dedicated as infants at the Wilshire church. And many years later I served as Associate Minister with Dr. James Pierson at Wilshire. There are many associations to that congregation and that building in my heart.

As we sat in the small service of worship, “de-con-secrating” (if there is such a word) that sacred space and remnant of a congregation, I recalled that I have numer-ous old photographs that belonged to my parents from their Wilshire days. There is a large photo of a group of young people standing on the front steps - the Chris-tian Endeavor group; a picture of the Cathedral Choir and of course, my parents’ wedding photos. I wonder who will remember what all of these represent when I’m gone. Who will know the significance of these people and places, or recall the vibrant worship and ministry that occurred within those walls?

I am reminded of a passage written by Kahil Gi-bran:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.

Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God. - (The Prophet)

First Christian news January 9, �019 Page �

How grateful I am that God is able to hold in memory all the sacred places of our living. This morn-ing, I collected the paper doves from the Christmas tree in the sanctuary. As I touched each of those lovely paper doves, it was as if each one contained a special energy. I could feel the love that imbued each one. The collec-tive memory that those tributes contained were power-ful and deeply felt. What an honor it is to hold those tributes. How honored God must be also, to hold the special memory of those whom he loves so dear.

Pastor Louise

WiNTer CamP iS here! For Chi Rho (Middle School) Youth in Grades 6 - 8Cost is $300 to register. (Campers have the option to pay

$200, with their church paying $100). If you would like to register AND help another middle school youth attend JAN Camp, cost is $400. Check in Friday, January 18 at 7pm •

Check out Monday, January 21 at 11am. The camp will take place at Loch Leven Camp and Conference Center • 8171

Mountain Home Creek Road, Mentone, CA 92350

hiGh SChOOL YOUTh WiNTer CamP Space is limited to 20 females and 20 males.

Cost is $300 to register. (Campers have the option to pay $200, with their church paying $100). If you would like to register AND help another middle school youth attend JAN

Camp, cost is $400. Check in Friday, January 18 at 7pm. Checkout Monday, January 21 at 11am. The camp will take place at Loch Leven Camp and Conference Center • 8171

Mountain Home Creek Road, Mentone, CA 92350

LOCH LEVEN WINTER CAMP REGISTRATION

reGiSTer FOr eiTher WiNTer CamP aT https://app.campdoc.com/!/home/auth/login?r=lochleven

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Donations can be dropped off at the church office during normal business hours or given to Deborah Luster in the Narthex on the morning of the second Sunday of the month. Please contact Deborah with any questions at 323.854.6707.

Now that winter has arrived it’s downright cold at night—especially for those who have no shelter. The Human Needs Committee is in need of winter sup-plies... clothing, shoes, tents, blankets, and more. Please take a look at the list below and consider donating one or more of these items to the homeless of our commu-nity.

coats warm socks jeans blankets

tents gloves sleeping bags knit caps

sweatshirts scarves men’s shoes sweatshirt/pants

“Speaking Christian” is based on a book by Mar-cus Borg. There are many words, phrases and concepts that most Christian people have a connection to, even if they don’t always understand the concepts in full. In many cases, our modern usage of these words is very different from the concepts they were originally in-tended to convey by Biblical writers, ancient teachers or theologians and by those who began to shape the early life of Christian communities. WE will take a second look at Christian concepts.

1/22 Speaking Christian/Beyond Literalism 1/29 Salvation 2/5 Word of God 2/12 God 2/19 Jesus 2/26 Easter 3/5 Believing and Faith 3/12 Sin – Forgiveness – Repentance 3/19 John 3:16 3/26 The Rapture & The Second Coming 4/2 Creeds & The Trinity 4/9 The Lord’s Supper

The class will be co-facilitated by Rev. Louise Sloan Goben and Rev. Ed Esau

Speaking ChriStiana Second Look at

Christian teachings

tuesday morning BiBle study

January 22 – april 910:00 aM • in the annex

— i s a i a h 5 5 : 1 —

First Christian news January 9, �019 Page �

I greet you in the Wonderful and Magnificent name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let’s kick this week off right. This Wednesday we will resume our middle school

after school study (3:30pm-5:30pm) and begin our third session of Teen Talk – the topic will center on Youth Sui-cide Prevention. Sheri Werner, has done a phenomenal job as moderator, shepherding our youth through topics such as Anxiety and Depression, and now she’ll lead us in a much-needed discussion of Youth Suicide Prevention. Come one, come all, and allow your child/children to be edified and enlighten on a vary serious matter surround-ing many youth today. There will be a slight change to our format. Based on feedback, I am going to separate

our middle school and high school meeting as follows:

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH will meet at 6:00pm in the Youth Hut and conclude at 7:00pm. Beginning at 7:05pm there will be a short parent debriefing of the middle school and high school parents. This meeting will conclude around 7:25pm.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH AND PARENTS should ar-rive at the Youth Hut at 7:00pm. High school parents please be prepared to have a debriefing regarding the in-formation your child will receive during the Suicide Pre-vention talk. This meeting will conclude at 7:25pm. Next, the high school youth will meet with Sheri and I privately in the Youth Hut. Pick up time will be 8:30pm.

NOW TO SOME FUN!!!It’s Time for Middle School FUN FRIDAY!!! This Friday from 6:00pm-8:00pm, we will have

our middle school Friday Fun Night in the Youth Hut. Our theme for Friday’s event is “Game Night!” All video gaming devices are welcomed. Please keep content age appropriate and church appropriate. There is ZERO tol-erance for games with nudity and/or profanity. We have one television in the Hut which is available for XBOX, PlayStation, and/or Wii hook-ups! In addition, we have a projection screen which is available for laptop hook-up.

Please don’t hesitate to email me any questions you might have. Let’s have a big turn out for this week’s events! Please confirm your child/children’s participation via email (jeremy@fccnh.org).

With Love, Jeremy Gillett

Director of Youth Ministries

Please plan to join Pastor Louise in the Educational Annex when the Monday Evening Bible Study resumes at 7:00 pm on January 28th. Stay tuned for specific topics and details.

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The 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in the San Fernando Valley is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22. Please sign up to help with the Studio City Count working out of our church under the lead-ership of Luis Oliart at: www.theycountwillyou.org/volunteer

Follow these steps at the website:

• Click on “Volunteer”• Type in 91604• “Studio City Count” will be selected in orange • Click on “Choose this site”• Add name, email address, home address, phone #• Answer the questions• Click on “Submit my RSVP”

Please sign up and encour-age friends and members of the congregation to sign up with you. Your help is very much needed and will be very much ap-preciated.

Lynn YoshizumiPantry Communications

Greater Los Angeles Homeless CountJanuary 22 • Volunteer Now

First Christian news January 9, �019 Page 9

The North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry serves roughly 5,000 people each

month, and we are in need of wholesome, health giving food—high protein foods are especially needed. The 3rd Sunday of each

month is Ingathering Sunday and our next is January 20th. Please bring your donations

to the Narthex or the Church office.

IN SUPPORT OF THEINTERFAITH FOOd PANTRy

ingatheringSundayJanuary 20

sundays . 5:30 pmwith the SpiritSong Band

Page 10 January 9, �019 First Christian news

FOOd PANTRy VOLUNTEER CONTACTSTransportation Teams:

Maggie Talton taltmaj0@gmail.comCongregation Representative:

Erin Zavala erinLzavala@gmail.com

anothEr way to donatE to thE pantry

Make your donations to the Interfaith Food Pantry through the FCCNH web page

(https://fccnh.charityfinders.com/Donate%20Cash).

thE Food pantry IS In nEEd oF:Canned tuna, canned chicken, rice, canned beans (pinto, navy etc.), bOxED (DRY)

CEREAL, diapers, powdered milk, baby food, peanut butter and tomato products!

Wednesday, January 9 Studio City Team

Thursday, January 10 #5 Rosey Tamkin Barbara Erdahl Derek Reisinger Cathy Reisinger

Sunday, January 13 #4 Luis Oliart Barbara Erdahl Robin Frank

Wednesday, January 16 Studio City Team

Sunday, January 20 #6 Barbara Erdahl Kevin Kenney Margaret Talton

Thursday, January 24 #1 Art Dielhenn Terri Hall Jackie Fecske

Sunday, January 27 #8 Sally Hallada Aidan Hallada Luke Hallada

Today’s Date: ______________________________

Name(s): __________________________________

__________________________________________

Daytime Phone: ____________________________

Email: ____________________________________

Available dates:

Floral Dedication:(Please check one of the following and write the specifics of your dedication in the space provide below)

In Honor of ... In Celebration of ... In Memory of ...

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Check enclosed for arrangement ($40)Arrangements are supplied by Dee’s Flowers.Checks should be made payable to FCCNH.

Flowers for the ChancelTo order flowers for the chancel, fill out the

following form and place in the offering plate or drop at the church office with your check for $40.

1/27 2/3 2/10 2/17 2/24 3/3 3/10 3/17 3/24 3/31 4/7 4/14

First Christian news January 9, �019 Page 11

CHURCH STAFF

Robert M. Bock Senior PastorLouise Sloan Goben Associate PastorAlfredo Gomez Pastor, Spanish Speaking CongregationJennifer Le’au Director of Children’s MinistriesJeremy Gillett Director of Youth MinistriesTyana Parr Director of Children’s/Youth ChoirsDavid Rigsby Music Director/OrganistChristine Karasseferian Director of FinanceChris CarsonChurch AdministratorGabriela Dorantes Administrative AssistantGlenda Morgan Brown Administrative AssistantTerri Burton Church PublicationsMichele Amundsen Wedding Director Elmer Maldonado Building & Grounds SuperintendentMiriam MancillaDirector of Christian Nursery SchoolGreg Kirkland Media Director

VOLUNTEER STAFFCraig Brooks, Jordan Goldschmidt, Janette Jara, Tom Louie, Susan Marble, Jeff McFadden, Denise OvaldsonSound Technicians

Luis Oliart Security

IN MEMORIAMEarle Immel Minister of Music Emeritus

Merle E. Fish, Jr. Minister Emeritus

By WAy OF REPORT

Week of Sunday, January 6, 2019 ____________

10:00 AM Worship 164 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service 21 7:00 PM Evenlight Service 3 Wednesday Meditation Service 3 Sunday School Children 39

10:00 AM Worship $10,105.03 Servicio en Español $97.00 5:30 PM SpiritSong Service $1,220.00 7:00 PM Evenlight Service -- Wednesday Meditation Service -- Sunday School Children $15.00

ToTal General offerinG $11,437.03

Initial Offering $79.00 Maurice & Ann Davis Scholarship Fund $31.74

PLEASE SUBMIT ARTICLES VIA EMAIL TOterrib@fccnh.org or terriburton@gmail.com

Please indicate “newsletter” and/or “bulletin” in the subject line if articles are for publication. Articles can

also be delivered to the office M-F, 9am to 5pm.

is midnight sunday!

n e w s l e t t e r

First Christian News First Christian ChurCh oF north hollywood

a Congregation oF the Christian ChurCh

(disCiples oF Christ) 4390 ColFax avenue

north hollywood, CA 91604 - 2898

THINK GREEN! PLEASE RECYCLE!NOTE: If you would like to receive this newsletter via Email, which saves

on printing/mailing costs and is better for the environment, please contact us. Annual subscription cost for first class mail version is $24.

January 13, 2019

10:00 am Bryan Zavala (O) Aliza Ramos (C) 5:30 pm Morgan Stoddard 7:00 pm Aliza Ramos

Diaconate: Loretta Rodriguez Joe Vallero Bill Drastal Karen Drastal Hillary Iffrig Erin Zavala Donna Loyd Deborah Currin Chris Trammell Patricia Turnquist

Upcoming Diaconate: January 20 Gaye Coffman & Ian Williamson January 27 Debbie Geraci & Oleta Diamond

First Christian Church of North Hollywood818/763-8218 • FAX 818/763-8457Web Site: www.fccnh.orgemail: fccnh@earthlink.net

Pastor & senior editor Robert M. Bockart direction Terri Burton

Production services

Byron Armantrout

emeritus

Mary Ann Steuterman Billie KlineLillian Carlson Heather Kenney Margaret Defibaugh Cathy Melendez Fern Donald Chuck Mont Jean Johnson Wanda Kanoy Helen Scarna Kay Smith Betty Van Zanten Shirley McClure Deborah Wheeler Virginia Stebbins Cindy Kaller